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Samoa road change plea rejected | Samoa road change plea rejected |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Protesters in the South Pacific nation of Samoa have lost a legal bid to stop a change in road rules that will force motorists to drive on the left. | Protesters in the South Pacific nation of Samoa have lost a legal bid to stop a change in road rules that will force motorists to drive on the left. |
The switch has led to demonstrations and sparked fears of chaos when the changes happen in a week's time. | |
Safety experts warn that the new measures will put lives at risk. | |
The new rules have survived legal challenges in the Supreme Court, while large protests have failed to convince the government to back down. | |
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele says that church bells will help to usher in the changes in the early morning in his quiet corner of the South Pacific. | Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele says that church bells will help to usher in the changes in the early morning in his quiet corner of the South Pacific. |
"We don't have that many cars in Samoa and we do not have that many people in Samoa too," he said. | "We don't have that many cars in Samoa and we do not have that many people in Samoa too," he said. |
"I would envisage at 0550 we will have a kind of speech through the television and then exactly at six the call will go out, sirens and church bells will ring." | "I would envisage at 0550 we will have a kind of speech through the television and then exactly at six the call will go out, sirens and church bells will ring." |
Economic aims | Economic aims |
The government has said there are sound economic reasons for the changes. | The government has said there are sound economic reasons for the changes. |
It wants to end the importation of expensive left-hand-drive cars, particularly big, thirsty American models. | It wants to end the importation of expensive left-hand-drive cars, particularly big, thirsty American models. |
Instead it is hoped that expatriate Samoans living in Australia and New Zealand will increasingly send used right-hand-drive vehicles home to their relatives. | Instead it is hoped that expatriate Samoans living in Australia and New Zealand will increasingly send used right-hand-drive vehicles home to their relatives. |
It has been argued that smaller cars that are cheaper to run would boost the development of poorer parts of the country, which has a population of about 180,000 people. | It has been argued that smaller cars that are cheaper to run would boost the development of poorer parts of the country, which has a population of about 180,000 people. |
Critics, though, are furious at such upheaval. | Critics, though, are furious at such upheaval. |
They have insisted the new road rules will cause mayhem and could trigger a rash of accidents. The changes will coincide with a special two-day public holiday designed to keep the confusion to a minimum. | They have insisted the new road rules will cause mayhem and could trigger a rash of accidents. The changes will coincide with a special two-day public holiday designed to keep the confusion to a minimum. |
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